With a muzzleloader. shooting black powder or a BP subsititute, it will use what it can. The slow burning rate causes excess powder to blow out the end of the barrel (called wasting money). With a .50 cal maxi ball, the most ACCURATE load seems to run just shy of 100 grains. I shoot a traditional style sidelock percussion Hawken.

We hunt with and shoot all the time two 50 cal inlines. Ones a traditions and the other a CVA. Both are accurate and not that bad to clean. I use pelitized and granulated powder both. I cast and lube my own bullets (lee 240 gr REAL). I found that with the lube that I make cleaning takes about 15 minutes each. Most of that is just trying to find the correct wrenches to take the nipple plugs out. They are some of the best investents as far a firearms go that I have ever made.

i love shooting the muzzle loader and yes it is a bit expensive for the powder about 15 dollars bullets about 20 dollars (clearance at walmart is 10 dollars) im going to try and shoot every weekend im not that bad of a shot here in rochester minnesota i go 2 the local gun club and shoot about 150 yards with a scope got 2 shots right in the middle the rest close too it just around the bulls eye shot about roughly 15 shots missed 2 times my brother n law said i missed be cause the scope was off a little too the left.

Hawg is right on. The rifle has a 44" swamped Rice, Chambers Flint Lock and Chambers vent. The pistol has a Rayle barrel Syler, lock and Chambers vent. These .54 will clean faster shooting black than I can clean a smokeless. The rifle is a Steve Zhin th pistol is a 40 year old Jack Garner.

I own several front loaders and enjoy using them. I mostly shoot the 50 calibers, both side lock and in-line, for both targets and hunting. We live in a shotgun only area but we can use black powder during the regular season so I have taken to using a scope mounted in-line for the added range. No scopes during the muzzle loading season. As far as cleaning the guns I don't feel that it is that big of a job. I only use Pryodex RS granular and it cleans easily.

Hawg is right on. The rifle has a 44" swamped Rice, Chambers Flint Lock and Chambers vent. The pistol has a Rayle barrel Syler, lock and Chambers vent. These .54 will clean faster shooting black than I can clean a smokeless. The rifle is a Steve Zhin th pistol is a 40 year old Jack Garner.

DK

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im new to the hole shooting scene andjust moved to Rochester mn so im just now learning how everything works those guns are nice specially the smaller of the two would not mind trying both im trying to try all types see what ones i like better.

My first was a Thompson Center Hawken 50, later a couple more, one for me and one for my Son...Trading and swapping I found I was out of 50s so ordered a Thompson Center look alike, some other brand. They sent me a .58 caliber and I started to send it back but remembered that I had some minie balls and bullet molds for .58.....Went out and shot that rascal...Wow ! I won't trade or sell that one so I can shoot either Minies or round patched balls...

I killed my first deer with the TC Hawken .50, round patched ball. May drag that old thing out of the safe and pop some caps at something....

Hawg I have known Steve a very long time. He lives 300 miles from me up near the Crow Rez on the Wind River. He has a little ranch behind a dusty butte in Hidden Valley. It takes a four wheel drive to get into his place year around. I go up and visit with him a couple times a year. We sorta deal out on things from time to time. You know what I am saying This rifle was based on one of my ancestors rifles who served under Andy Jackson in the Tenn. Militia. I will post some pics of the butt stock. Your Hawkens is a fine looking periode rifle. The Hawkens is always in style.